Help with Europe trip..
Discussion
I am thinking about doing a fairly major trip in the T350 in Europe during August but have very little experience of driving in Europe etc.
Current plan (initial thoughts) is to head down to the south of France stopping overnight in the Champagne region and maybe Lyon and then on to Cote d'azur for a couple of days (Cannes, Nice etc); move on through the Alps to Northern Italy taking in a few cities then up to the Lakes spending a week or so around Garda, Como, Iseo etc.
Return leg up through Switzerland, Germany, Belgium etc.
Would really appreciate posts/emails of experiences or tips to help out planning this trip. At this stage i know nothing about driving regulations, insurance cover, toll costs, fuel costs, breakdown cover, best/worst routes.
I was in Cannes last month and one thing i do remember is that there seemed to be a lot of inclines around the towns that the T350 would scrap on quite majorly!:(
Current plan (initial thoughts) is to head down to the south of France stopping overnight in the Champagne region and maybe Lyon and then on to Cote d'azur for a couple of days (Cannes, Nice etc); move on through the Alps to Northern Italy taking in a few cities then up to the Lakes spending a week or so around Garda, Como, Iseo etc.
Return leg up through Switzerland, Germany, Belgium etc.
Would really appreciate posts/emails of experiences or tips to help out planning this trip. At this stage i know nothing about driving regulations, insurance cover, toll costs, fuel costs, breakdown cover, best/worst routes.
I was in Cannes last month and one thing i do remember is that there seemed to be a lot of inclines around the towns that the T350 would scrap on quite majorly!:(
Go for it. Just got back from 2,000 miles down to the Dorgdogne and the Ardeche. Did a longer trip last summer to Italy too. Car loved both trips and was fine on the tunnel/ferries and some rather steeply inclinded multistories etc.
Just make sure you stay somewhere with parking. Leaving your car parallel parked on the road in France/Italy is asking for trouble.
Watch out for French speed traps.
Super unleaded is available everywhere.
Enjoy.
Just make sure you stay somewhere with parking. Leaving your car parallel parked on the road in France/Italy is asking for trouble.
Watch out for French speed traps.
Super unleaded is available everywhere.
Enjoy.
Hi live in Cannes and look at this web site www.bonneroute.co.uk, they are used to do that kind of trio and then plan one in August with some others TVR and others sport cars!
Tell me if you need some spots near Cannes and a place to park the car!
cheers
>> Edited by TVRspirit on Sunday 12th June 19:59
Tell me if you need some spots near Cannes and a place to park the car!
cheers
>> Edited by TVRspirit on Sunday 12th June 19:59
Last year we spent nearly a month driving the Tamora in Europe. We crossed the channel at Dover and had 2 overnights in France on the way down to the south of France (Novotel-type hotels, pretty cheap but fit for purpose). We then spent a week in an apartment at Mandelieu (very close to Cannes), then a week at an apartment at Lake Maggiore in Italy, then a week at a chalet in Grindelwald in Switzerland. On the way back we spent another night at a Novotel in France.
One huge problem, though - we desperately wanted to do it again this year but are busy redecorating the house!
It was a fabulous holiday and we had crowds around the Tamora everywhere we went.
Email me offline if you would like more details on how we arranged the trip.
Julian
One huge problem, though - we desperately wanted to do it again this year but are busy redecorating the house!
It was a fabulous holiday and we had crowds around the Tamora everywhere we went. Email me offline if you would like more details on how we arranged the trip.
Julian
I did the supercarrun (www.supercarrun.com) last year which goes down to the south of france for four days. Here's the list of France-specific laws they mention in their handbook:
- drive on the right (I'm sure you knew that)
- driving with sidelights is illegal
- red warning triangle is mandatory
- parking is sometimes on one side of the street on days 1-15 of the month and on the other side for the rest of the month. Signs that say 1-15 or 16-31 mean you *cannot* park on that side during those dates.
There's no speed cameras but there's lots of speed traps. If you get caught you could be fined, have your licence confiscated, or even have the vehicle impounded.
Great roads though. I recommend going over the alps into switzerland.
steve
- drive on the right (I'm sure you knew that)
- driving with sidelights is illegal
- red warning triangle is mandatory
- parking is sometimes on one side of the street on days 1-15 of the month and on the other side for the rest of the month. Signs that say 1-15 or 16-31 mean you *cannot* park on that side during those dates.
There's no speed cameras but there's lots of speed traps. If you get caught you could be fined, have your licence confiscated, or even have the vehicle impounded.
Great roads though. I recommend going over the alps into switzerland.
steve
STEVEN
Have you considered doing the Eurohoon PHers trip in september? Should be a few other TVR owners, back up vehicle with mechanic etc.
www.eurohoon.com
Take a look at the links on the left handside of this page for legal requirmeents when driving in Europe etc:
www.dettaglio.co.uk/useful.cfm
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Monday 13th June 17:14
Have you considered doing the Eurohoon PHers trip in september? Should be a few other TVR owners, back up vehicle with mechanic etc.
www.eurohoon.com
Take a look at the links on the left handside of this page for legal requirmeents when driving in Europe etc:
www.dettaglio.co.uk/useful.cfm
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Monday 13th June 17:14
stevenleith said:
Current plan (initial thoughts) is to head down to the south of France stopping overnight in the Champagne region and maybe Lyon and then on to Cote d'azur for a couple of days (Cannes, Nice etc); move on through the Alps to Northern Italy taking in a few cities then up to the Lakes spending a week or so around Garda, Como, Iseo etc.
Did virtually that same trip in my Chimaera. Was a real hoot, and about 3,000 miles including detours!
1) Standard insurance usually covers EC. Check though.
2) Remember to take v5, insurance cert etc.
3) I usually buy AA 5 star
4) I usually book hotels ahead, helps with the plan, and usually safeguards parking.
5) Don't forget triangle, bulbs, spare spectacles (if you wear em) & now a high vis jacket is required in some countries.
2) Remember to take v5, insurance cert etc.
3) I usually buy AA 5 star
4) I usually book hotels ahead, helps with the plan, and usually safeguards parking.
5) Don't forget triangle, bulbs, spare spectacles (if you wear em) & now a high vis jacket is required in some countries.
I can recommend a hotel near Nice. Not quite Cannes I know but its worth the vist. Its in Juan-Les-Pins and is called Hotel Juana. A 4 star Deluxe hotel with its own private beach and good parking. Plus the concierge likes good cars. Book via Expedia like we did and you'll get a great rate.
If you're in Lyon I'd avoid the Hotel & Spa Lyon Métropole. In our experience is was f
ing st.
Rob
If you're in Lyon I'd avoid the Hotel & Spa Lyon Métropole. In our experience is was f
ing st. Rob
Standard insurance by LAW must give minimum cover in all uk countries, however as this is usually only 3rd party you probably will want to inform your insurance company who will then issue you with a green card, usualy for up to 30 days at no extra cost. If you travel with your standard UK insurance docs expect grief if you are stopped as they are not widely recognised by foreign plod and remember you will probably be only 3rd party.
wrt your licence, take a coulple of very good colour copies and try to fend foreign plod off with them instead of your original, or better still get an international driving licence from the AA.
Make sure you keep an eye on your fuel as a lot of places revert to cards only out of hours and weekends and dont always accept credit cards.
Italy now requires you carry a high viz jacket in your car, all countries require a triangle and most require a first aid kit and fire extinguisher. Some also require spare bulbs and fuses but I am not sure which
Enjoy !!!
wrt your licence, take a coulple of very good colour copies and try to fend foreign plod off with them instead of your original, or better still get an international driving licence from the AA.
Make sure you keep an eye on your fuel as a lot of places revert to cards only out of hours and weekends and dont always accept credit cards.
Italy now requires you carry a high viz jacket in your car, all countries require a triangle and most require a first aid kit and fire extinguisher. Some also require spare bulbs and fuses but I am not sure which
Enjoy !!!
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